Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-16
Barclay Peak Her slayer.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORONERS JURY IN TIL
MARY ANDERSON CASE

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE CORoNERS JURY IN THE
MARY ANDERSON CASE.
IL was stated in yesterdays STAR that the cor
oner's jury in the case OF Mary Anderson rem
dered verdict that the girl came to her death
from pistol shot wound and that Barclay Peak,
her cousin, was guilty OF shooting her. Peak did
not appear, his counsel, Mr.. Gasken, having
waived his right to make a statement. Farmer
Amos johnson told the story OF the finding Of the
wounded girl by the roadside. The revolver was
found by Mrs Brewer on Tuesday morning and
Identified by William Witcraft. He said il was
the same weapon he had traded with Barclay
Peak q lew days before.
AIvah Colkitt a hale-looking farmer, testified
that Mary Anderson was bright and CHEEKY on the
afternoon and evening preceding the shooting and
went about the house singing merrily, was her
won't. When the family were about sitting down
To supper, between and O'Clock in the evening,
Mary threw a shawl over her head and shoulders
and remarked that she didn't care for any supper.
She then went out without saying where she was
going or when she would return. When the fam
lily had retired TO bed she had not yet returned.
Some time during the night The house dog barked
4 good deal. The next morning Mrs. Brewer the
Washerwoman, reached Coihitts house about $50
O'CLOCK ON her way she picked up the revolver
by the roadside. Soon afterwards the awful an
Rouncement was made that Mary had been
shot. The sunday before the shooting Mary
went away from home and came back with Peak
who spent the evening with her.
William Witcra1t, an intimate friend OF the ac-
eISed man, testified that he had traded the re-
volver. which was shown 10 the jury, with Peak
week before, for watch IL Is nickel-plated ~
c4lDer weapon. On the morning OF the shooting
Peak came over to see witness unusually early.
He referred To Mary several times, and seemed to
be very much depressed. At that time the body
had not been1ouEd- soon after that William Prick
EFT drove up ana said TO Peak: what have you
been doing TO Mary?" Instead OF replying to the
question Peak said TO Witcraft: II wonder what
PricGett Is trying 10 get through him" Afterwards
Peak arose and began to pace the floor in nervous
manner, working his hands cOnvulstvely and
grinding his teeth Then he said: ..What are you
lying about" .'rrn not lying" said Pickett,
MARY Anderson has Just been found nearly dead :"
Peak betrayed no surprise at this and went
home without making any comment. The next
morning N1tcraft told Peak about the finding of
the revolver. Peak explained ii by saying that he
and Mary had been target-shoOUing on Sunday
and that she afterwards took the pistol away
from him, saying she was afraid he might shoot
himself. Then Peak made this remak: If Katie
comes TOO and tells her tale I'll tell mine III she
don't never Will. II they see mt TO hang me- I'll
have TO stand IT," Two days afterwards Peak
asked Nltcraft 70 say nothing about the converse
ton they had. Peak had often said he and Mary
or Katie, as she Familiarity called were mar
ned but on the morning The girl was found he de-
MED IL for the first time. He was seen 10 buy
box OF cartridges in Mount Holly on The SATURDAY.
night before the shooting.
Rachel Brewer, the woman who found Peaks
pistol SAID hatlc hdd told her that Peak had said
he would xiii any he loved III she refused 10
marry him. He then asked Katie TO marry him
Out she refused. saying she WOULD never marry
cousin II she could get any one else
Andrew Bremen testified that he saw Barclay
aud the girl together on sunday evening before
the finding OF The body They were walking to-
gamer On the Ayre>town road. Saw Barclay on
AoE1ay Hlgnt coming round that corner going TO
Ayre>town about i've minutes before or alter six
0cIOrk pm. III this testimony is true il DESTROYS
Peak dIlDl "a his people SwOre at the hearing be-
fore the Justice that he was at home at that time
katie had SAID that Barclay declared he would
murder the girl he loved If she refused 10 marry
him.
Justice OF the Peace John NayIor testified that
Maize said 10 MIN: Barclay Peak shot me He
I'D IN wait Tor me-" Her consciousness was